Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Democrats' immigration plan

[StarfishSaver]

25. Yes and no

You're right - the Parliamentarian does have to interpret laws, but that is part of their responsibility for interpreting what powers the Senate has under its rules.

In this instance, the Parliamentarian is interpreting what the Senate rules allow the Senate to do under its reconciliation powers. She ruled that granting leniency to millions of immigrants was not simply a budget matter, which the reconciliation powers is limited to, but was a “tremendous and enduring policy change that dwarfs its budgetary impact.” She also states that such a move would set a precedent allowing future Senates (i.e., Republican controlled) to easily and summarily strip immigrants of their legal status using the same type of procedural measure.